yes both reversed - unless she move the water tube to the other sideWell is the other one reversed too?
yes both reversed - unless she move the water tube to the other sideWell is the other one reversed too?
However, the strains of hair seemed to have moved from one side of her head to the other, and also the way she combed back her hair.
Weird.
Asking for fruit bothers me because it's heavy. IMO she wouldn't have asked for it unless she really needed it. She might also have seen that the other hiker had extra.I wonder why Esther would have been asking for fruit and not having sufficient supplies with her if she still had a fair time ahead of her before she planned to return to the campervan. I suppose it could have been her 'way' of making human contact and not necessarily indicative of dehydration.
I watched a video she made much earlier this year when she described a similar incident of going out without enough refreshment and asking a garage worker for drink and food. On that occasion she had no money or phone on her. I'm not sure on the rules for linking to it, despite being part of the antique furniture here.
Also should perhaps be considered whether it was actually Esther posting?So, if the mast signals are so good, they should be able to confirm whether Esther moved after the Whatsapp selfie was sent. Do we know what time that was? I've got 4pm in my head but the sun would've set at 5:30/6ish so you'd think she'd be wanting to find a safe warm place asap.
The whole timings of social media and messaging is troubling me. Could there have been delays in her pressing send and the messages going through?
Perhaps a specific obsession had built up, but who knows?<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>
IMO, Esther would have been more at risk when she was staying in her van than when she was in the mountains. What would be the motive for tracking her through the mountains just to kill her? She was just an ordinary 37 year old woman, plenty of those can be found by going on Tindr, no hiking necessary.
Also should perhaps be considered whether it was actually Esther posting?
The Refuge de Venasque, which is where I believe Esther was planning to stay that night, is marked as being only 750 metres, a 14 minute walk, from Pic de Sauvegard as it is pinned on the map. Sauvegard is about 14km from where her campervan is parked.
If you click on the 3D button on the right, you can see the terrain very clearly:
Google Maps
So really, had she done the planned route, she should have been back at the refuge soon after sending Dan the photo. Which leaves a relatively small area to search. I'd be very interested to know at exactly what point she was seen by the other hikers (the ones who were walking down the mountain).
Wondering if she really made it to the top on 22nd, even though it would seem so from what we've been told.
I felt that there was a definite familiarity there when Esther described the possibility of a lift from a fellow hiker. I wondered whether she already knew him? Seems odd that he hasn't come forward.<modsnip: Quoted post was removed; different case>
I would venture to bet that there are almost always other hikers around on the camino, and hikers on long treks tend to cluster up and hang for a while. I imagine that's especially so on that pilgrimage, as it's a kind of religious walk with other pilgrims. Many pilgrims on the way is kind of the point.
That would add to safety.
On the other hand, the Camino goes through heavily populated areas: way bigger chance of a perp on that trail than some others, I would think.
An occasional murder does not a hazard make, however. There have been several murders on the AT. Does that mean it's unsafe? Well, I'll bet the incidence of murder is lower on that trail than the surrounding areas.
However, who would want to be a predator at 12k odd feet, as in the Pyrenees? That's not exactly low hanging fruit. Plus, the victim would be very fit.
There is more likely to have been a problem if ED hitched a ride. I suppose someone could have tried to steal her stuff (she had VERY expensive equipment) and a fatal tussle ensued. But this also might not have been a "stranger danger" situation. Evidently, nothing has been ruled out.
I think Google Maps is being a tad optimistic. The other way round, coming from the Refuge de Venasque and the Puerto de Benasque, experienced hikers take over 2 hour to reach the top of the Salvaguardia, mentioning that the track wasn't difficult.
I switched the locations on your google map, and the time remained 14 minutes whether you go UP or DOWN in the mountains.
Not likely IMHO.
I agree, here is a description of the hike going from the French side, ie the opposite direction of what Esther was planning to do that day:I think Google Maps is being a tad optimistic. The other way round, coming from the Refuge de Venasque and the Puerto de Benasque, experienced hikers take over 2 hour to reach the top of the Salvaguardia, mentioning that the track wasn't difficult.
I switched the locations on your google map, and the time remained 14 minutes whether you go UP or DOWN in the mountains.
Not likely IMHO.
Completely agree. It's very strange that he hasn't come forward.It does worry me that he hasn't come forward yet. If that was me and I was innocent, I would want to clear my name asap.
So was she climbing to the top of the same peak the next day? Why would she do that? I need to go back over the maps...
Maybe he doesn't exist?I felt that there was a definite familiarity there when Esther described the possibility of a lift from a fellow hiker. I wondered whether she already knew him? Seems odd that he hasn't come forward.
Doesn't everyone have a lock on their phone these day? I can't imagine travelling around with an unlocked phone. Also, it's very hard for a stranger to send a message that would fool a spouse. Esther was very communicative, not just cryptic texts.Also should perhaps be considered whether it was actually Esther posting?
Very true.Maybe he doesn't exist?
I don't understand, why would she lie about him?Maybe he doesn't exist?
If you're someone who has a lot of pictures taken of you for social media, you get comfortable no matter who is photographing. (Source: I have two pretty big instagrams, one is a travel page).I find it odd how Esther poses in that photo perhaps taken by the stranger. She looks extremely comfortable in the photo and it's not how I would pose when being photographed by someone I barely knew.
There's an odd experience when strangers briefly hang out together while travelling or hiking, it's true friendliness that doesn't exist in ordinary life. You don't care about the person's normal identity or credentials, you're just experiencing the present moment in the company of another. You say goodbye when it's over and usually make no effort to keep in touch. It's one of the great things about going solo, it doesn't happen with couples or a group of people.I find it odd how Esther poses in that photo perhaps taken by the stranger. She looks extremely comfortable in the photo and it's not how I would pose when being photographed by someone I barely knew.